Emily J. Thompson

Emily J. Thompson is a professional violinist and teacher. She has a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Bowling Green State University, where she studied with Vasile Beluska and Penny Thompson Kruse and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University in Early Music (baroque violin), where she studied with Stanley Ritchie and Brenda Brenner. She studied violin pedagogy with Mimi Zweig at the Indiana University String Academy, and took Suzuki Teacher Training from Doris Preucil and Christie Felsing. Emily was the founding director and teacher at the Indiana Wesleyan Suzuki Violin Program, where she also served as adjunct professor of violin, chamber music, and string techniques from 2012-2017. She has also taught violin at Oak Farm Montessori, Indianapolis Suzuki Academy and as an assistant in the IU String Academy.

Emily is a professional orchestral, chamber, and solo violinist.  Emily made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2012 performing with other faculty members from Indiana Wesleyan Univeresity in the ensemble Soprani Compagni. As a professional violinist, Emily has performed in orchestras throughout the region, including the Marion Philharmonic, Muncie Symphony, and Fort Wayne Philharmonic. She has played in regional tours with the Mannheim Steamroller orchestra, as well as with other artists such as Manhattan Transfer, Ben Folds, and Mary Wilson. She has also performed on baroque violin in the Bach Collegium Fort Wayne. Emily is a founding member of the Redeemer Consort, a sacred ensemble specializing in Lutheran music from the 16th to 18th centuries.

Emily enjoys running, working on web design, and spending time playing baseball, cooking, and watching Star Wars and Star Trek with her husband and two boys.